Sunday, March 6, 2016

I have been a part of Blue Monday since 2009. The hostess, Smiling Sally, had a lot of rules we needed to follow to link in. Since I was the dumb blogger on the street, she scared me to death. Comments were very important to her. She never failed to leave you one. Sometimes if you did not return the comment, she would let you know. I finally mastered the rules and have enjoyed each Monday I spent with her since.

She was a very gracious lady and loved her family and friends. She has had so many health issues over the years. I honestly did not think she would make it when she was in the hospital for 70 days. It was after that, we became even closer friends. One day she was going through the cards she had received when hospitalized during that time, and discovered I had sent her the most. She called to tell me what it meant to her and from then own we kept in touch by phone. Sometimes little things mean so very much.

We discussed heart issues as my husband died from congestive heart problems. I could understand and relate to her. I sent a book from my husband's doctor that gave her helpful information. From that time on, we have talked and shared various things. I felt honored she wanted to share her time with me. She also mentioned that one of her friends would continue to keep Blue Monday going.

On Saturday, February 28, her husband, John,(she called him Johnny) called me to say she had a really bad spell that day. Hospice was taking care of her and keeping her pain down.

On Monday, February 29th, I called John to check on the her. She wanted to talk to me. I could tell she was on oxygen and having a hard time talking. Little did I realize, it would be a our last goodbye. I treasure that conversation and will never forget how someone so ill, still took the time to tell you how much you meant to them. Even in her worst days, she had a smile. Those of you she left a comment on the last Blue Monday should feel very grateful. As bad as things were, she was determined to leave each of you one final comment.

To her family and friends may it help you to know that she was a special lady and well respected by everyone. My life is much richer just knowing her via phone. I never had the privilege of meeting her personally. My you find peace and comfort in knowing there are so many of us that truly cared. Now, I must let her go, but never FORGOTTEN.

19
comments:

LV, I am at working and trying hard to fight back the tears. I was lucky enough to be one of those chosen few who received a comment form Sally that very last day and I AM so very grateful for that. I was thrilled to read of the special freindship that the 2 of you shared. Those are sometimes very rare in this world that we live in.Thanks so much for this wonderful tribute. I just posted my final Blue Monday post and added a link to yours!!Sally touched all our lives and she will truly be missed..

I saw that you had posted about Sally over at Debbie Dabble and wanted to come and see you. What a special relationship y'all had and thank you for sharing it. I loved her too. I never met her but felt she was my friend.Blessings,Shelia ;)

the comment thing reminds me of two people playing tennis. It's very easy to leave comments back and forth, but we will miss at least one or two after awhile. I don't really keep up with it anymore, but I did get mad when some people never commented back. I just learned to let it be.

Awesome post, LaVoice... Made me cry... I knew her --but obviously, you knew her even better than I did. She was truly an amazing lady... Since I don't participate much in memes, I never did Blue Monday --but always followed Sally and kept up with her on her blog. I also spent many hours praying for her through the years.. I will miss her so much --but know that she is finally out-of-pain and is with God...

I'm glad that someone will keep Blue Monday going in her memory... God Bless the family/friends of Smiling Sally.. She was an inspiration to so many.

We shall all miss Sally very much, LV! I have a tribute to Sally at the end of my blog post today Your tribute to her is so heartfelt and beautiful--it is so nice you were able to talk to Sally on the phone often and say a last few words to her on her last day on earth. I am inspired by her deep faith and I know she is now in heaven. I will always keep her in my prayers.

When you sent those cards to Sally, It was the beginning of a beautiful heartfelt friendship. Sometimes the smallest of gestures is what touches so deeply. I'm so happy you two had this and I think you are the best!!! I will miss her so much and never think of the color blue without thinking of her.Ann

Oh LV how you made me smile and cry and cry and smile more! What a true friend Sally was to you and she treated each person who came across her Blue Monday meme like she knew us her entire life. I loved her that she would comment and give you heck if you didn't in such a sweet way! I will never forget her kindness to me all these years and her faith made me want to be stronger and more open about my own faith. You know me, rarely at a loss for words so I want to tell you a funny thing. I had a coupon today for free mascara with any purchase from Almay. Well, had I remembered that I was going to spend the day on and off reading these posts I never would have gotten dolled up for a quick dinner with my honey tonight! I cried a lot of tears for Sally because I loved her so much as a true person. No airs, no phoniness, just a real down to earth sweetheart. To top it all off my hubby called me to say I should be recording the live airing of Peyton Manning's retirement. SO much for all that pretty mascara.! But all my tears today were happy ones for having known such a priceless friend like Sally. I am so happy you spoke with her before her passing. Friends like you and Sally are rare. Thank you for all you have said and all the things you shared about your friendship with her. You are a real ray of sunshine to me too. Thanks for your friendship here and I feel very blessed that I was able to visit with you face to face. Until we see Sally again we will just rely on all the memories. Thank you and Hugs xo Anne

Dearest LV, This is a lovely tribute to Sally today. She was a very special person and I miss her so much. Sally has so many friends in Blogland and her loss has been a shock to everyone. She did not want the sympathy and sadness so she wanted her illness kept very private. So like her to not want her friends too know. It was wonderful that you were one of her friends that she shared with. You are a dear friend to me as well. At last dear Sally is home with our Lord and at peace now. I too treasured her friendship as I do yours.

I hope your week is a good one. Our weather is very Spring like and warmer as well.

Much love,Jeanne

I will be set up for Linking by next week and Blue Monday will live on. I only hope I can be the 'Host' that she was.

Dear LV!I cannot believe that she sent me her comment only some hours before she passed away...She must had a warm heart and a happy soul.I am very grateful to being a memmber of her lovely blue mondays, though I not played the blue game every week, only sometimes, when I had time to do it.Thank's for sharing this, LV and take care!Best wishesAnnA

Dearest LV.,What a lovely tribute to your very warm and special friend Sally.She no doubt is smiling down from heaven now and still reads what those that meant so much for her, write...Yes, we never know how much some extra attention and love will mean for another person.You kept up very well in devoting your time to her and sharing things that helped her, no doubt.My Dad too is diagnosed with CHF and we all know what the end of that is... My best friend's Dad died because of it.A big hug and sorry for this loss - a void will be left.Mariette

Such a beautiful tribute to your friend LV. . I am so sorry. I never did Blue Monday, but I knew you loved it and as soon as I read the sad news I thought of you. And that was before I realized the very special bond you had with Sally. It is obvious from your post that she was a very special person.

Such a lovely tribute, LV! I found out yesterday that Sally had passed when I visited her blog. It was such a shock. I haven't joined Blue Monday for many, many months but I thought I'd join again. I do remember Sally's rules... and her lovely comments. Once I left a comment, but Sally didn't see it and assumed I'd forgotten, so of course I got a reminder email. I wrote back and explained I'd already left a comment as I was the first to link to the party. I received another email with a big apology. We had a laugh about it and I told her I left a second comment on Blue Monday just for the fun of it... I didn't mind doing that ♥

Young 88 who is enjoying life to the fullest. Retired in 1991 after working 40 years. Lost my husband in 1995. This is a new world for me and I am not a writer. So bear with me, and perhaps in the future I can present something of interest to you.